Construction of buildings.



, PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

G. Y. BONUS. CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1902.

no MODEL.

- whereby the machinery floors and the roof are UNi'irnio rates Patented May 12, 1903.

GEORGE Y. BONUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HANNAH L. BONUS,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OF BUILDINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,579, dated May 12, 1 903.

- Serial No. 93,812. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that LGEORGE Y.BONUs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Construction for Buildings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the constructions of that class of buildings in connection with which a certain amount of storage-tanks are usedsuch, for instance, as grain elevators, flour mills, linseed oil plants, cotton-seed and all other cereal-products mills, grain cleaning houses, oil refineries, &c.

The object of my invention is to combine the construction of storage-tanks with floors for the support of machinery and roof over same, so as, first, to construct all in a very compact form; second, to provide one and a sufficient foundation for the whole; third, to separate the interior and working floors of the building from the exterior atmosphere by large space filled with air, grain, or other substance; fourth, to provide a cheaper construction of steel for a building than was heretofore possible, and, fifth, to construct an absolutely fireproof building.

Heretofore grain elevators, linseed oil plants, &c., were built with the machinery, rolls, &c., placed in a separate building from the storage-tanks and usually some distance apart to guard against the spread of accidental fire; but with my new invention I provide a new, novel, and cheap construction all supported by the steel storage-tanks, thus making substantially one building of the whole and may be considered as having its outer walls consist of a series of storagetanks separated by comparatively small spaces, which are conveniently closed by window-lights and doors. I construct a foundation for the storage-tanks thus arranged which is sufficient to carry the floors and roof. By thus surrounding the interior by the storagetanks I obtain the much desired coolness in the summer and warmth in the winter.

By my improved method of construction I provide means whereby it is possible to build a steel structure cheaper than it was by any of the former methods and at the same time make it fireproof, which is no small item with insurance on the building. I also provide by this im proved construction means whereby the building maybe constructed of any desired shape and sizes-that is, the building can be built longer by adding more tanks or bins.

Another feature of my invention is to so construct the building that the light from outsidewill illuminate the whole of each floor and there will be no dark corners. I may also find it most convenient in some places to have only a portion of the outer wall of the building constructed of storage-tanks.

I attain these objects by the method illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to identical parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a building constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan section thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section OIIllIlGA A of Fig. 2, the roof being in central section; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion shown in Fig. 2.

Upon the foundation 5 rest the four storage-tanks 6, which are somewhat greater in diameter than the tanks 7, located between the tanks 6. Secured to each of'the tanks 6, on the side adjacent to the tanks 7, are the tanks 8, somewhat semicircular in form. EX- tending across the spaces between the tanks 66, 7 7, and 7 8 are the window-lights 9, ex- .tending from the tops of the doors 10 to the lower side of the roof 11.

l The roof 11 is of a semicircular shape, as shown, and has in each end 12 thereof the window-lights 13 and may have the roof-1i ghts 14 to illuminate the upper floor 15.,

Secured by rivets, bolts, or otherwise to the tanks 7 7 and 8 8 are the perpendicular channel-irons 16, to which are secured the main floor-girders 17, supporting the smaller floorgirders 18.

The roof 11 is of a semicircular form, made of preferably sheet-steel, the same as the tanks 6 7 8, and is secured to the tops of the tanks in the position shown in the drawings.

I am aware that prior to my invention storage-tanks have been constructed with elevators operated in connection therewith. I

therefore do not claim such a combination broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In the construction of a building, the combination of a plurality of sheet-metal tanks forming a portion of the walls of the building and supporting a roof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a building construction, the combination of steel floor-supports, glass partitions, and sheet-metal roof all supported upon and by steel tanks forming a portion of the outer Walls of the building, substantially as set forth.

3. In a building construction, the combination of the cylindrical sheet-steel storagetanks, supporting the fioor-beams and sheetmetal roof and the glass partitions, substantially as shown.

4. In a building construction, a series of cylindrical sheet-metal tanks surrounding and supporting a plurality of floors and a roof over same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In the construction of a building, the combination of a floor, partitions, roof and sheet-metal tanks; the sheet-metal tanks sup: porting the roof and forming the outer wall of the building, substantially as set forth.

6. In a building construction, the combination of floor-supports, partitions, roof and sheet-metal storage-tanks; the sheet-metal tanks forming a portion of the outer wall of the building, substantially as set forth.

7. In a building construction, the com bination of the sheet-metal tanks forming a portion of the walls of the building, and supporting the roof and glass partitions, substantially as shown.

8. In the construction of a building, the combination of a plurality of storage-tanks forming a portion of the walls of the building and supporting a roof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a building construction, the combination of floors, partitions and roof supported by storage-tanks forming the outer wall of the building, as set forth.

10. In a building construction, the combination of floor-supports, partitions, and roof allsupported upon and by storage-tanks forming a portion of the outer walls of the building, substantially as set forth.

11. In a building construction, the combination of the cylindrical storage-tanks, supporting the floor-beams and roof, and the glass partitions, substantially as shown.

12. In a building construction, a series of cylindrical storage-tanks surrounding and supporting a plurality of floors and a roof over same substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In the construction of a building, the combination of a floor, partition, roof and storage-tanks; the storage-tanks supporting the roof and forining the outer wall of the building, substantially as set forth.

14:. In a building construction, the combination of floor-supports, partitions, roof and storage-tanks; the storage-tanks forming a portion of the outer wall of the building, substantially as set forth.

15. In a building construction, the combination of the storage-tanks forming a portion of the walls of the building and supporting the roof and partitions, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 25th day of January, 1902.

GEORGE Y. BONUS.

In presence of- CHAS. REUTER, MABEL SMITH. 

